Happy Birthday to me!

How much better of a start can a birthday have then chocolate chip pancakes in bed! That is how my first day of my 31st year started....I have the greatest husband ever! That breakfast was followed by a clean kitchen, clean house and flowers! 

I was sitting in the salon chair today getting a manicure and pedicure and I was thinking about a review that I read. Someone was complaining because this particular salon (I frequent often) was slow. They mentioned that they were there for 2 hours, sitting in the massage chair. Is there something wrong with this? I understand that some people like the quick fix, in and out manicure. When the title of the salon has then words grand and spa in it, I'm not thinking this is a quick fix. It is funny to me that people are in such a rush all the time, even on a Saturday at the nail salon! I enjoyed my hour and half massaging manicure and pedicure!

The perfect ending to the perfect day is dinner at my favorite restaurant with friends. Thanks Steph and Jeff for helping me celebrate! Can't forget to mention the ice cream cake made my my wonderful husband! Thanks honey for making today so special. Here's to year 31!

One More Week

As Sara and I talk about wrapping up our school years, I can't help to think about all the good and the bad. You can tell a lot about a teacher by how they judge their year. Many will tell you about their test scores; if the scores were good, they had a good year. I'm not that person. I judge my year based the growth of the students intellectually, emotionally, and their maturity. Now we all know you win some and you lose some. I feel that I have won a lot this year. I have been able to see all of my students mature in one or more areas. I'm not saying I had a perfect year; there were some tough times. But the good times far outweigh the tough.
I'm glad to be a teacher. I get to see growth. I get to be a part of molding and changing a life. And I get 2 and a half months off during the best time of the year. (Trust me...it's well earned.)

Gotta go...fireworks at the ballpark. I love being able to watch from my patio!

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day! I was reflecting on motherhood this morning when I was talking to my mom. I can't relate to motherhood seeing as I am not yet a mother. But what an incredible accomplishment that must be! I can only imagine what my mom must feel like, someday I will be able to share in those emotions. But for now, I can relate to being a daughter. So Mom, this blog is for you, Happy Mother's Day...

Thank you for the endless hours of doing the laundry, making lunches, cooking dinners, helping with homework, relinquishing control of the phone, television and car, performing ridiculous amounts of comic relief when a boyfriend broke up with us or a friend acted like a jerk, and for lending an ear every minute of the day. Thank you for driving me to college and listening to me cry for 8 hours and driving me home at the end of the year when I cried for 8 more. Thank you for being my best friend, confident, mother and shoulder to cry on. Thank you for supporting me, financially, emotionally and spiritually. Thank you for always being there even when I didn't want you to be, for keeping your distance when you knew I needed to be on my own, for knowing when to give just the right nudge and when to reel me in and for letting me go this summer to marry the man of my dreams. Most importantly Mom, thanks for being you, there is only one and you are the best! 

Here is a hysterical link to a video done by comic Anita Renfroe click here, enjoy! 

Spring in Texas

Today was one of those beautiful Texas spring days. After an uneconomically stimulating trip to the outlets, we decided to take a Saturday drive. We checked out a great neighborhood about 10 minutes from where we currently live. I have lived a lot of places but nowhere have I seen what I saw today just 10 minutes outside of the booming metropolis where we live (population 100,000). 

This was truly beautiful, only in Texas!

Today culminated with yet another trip to Lochrann's, this time to listen to Kenny Chesney! Patrick thought I was a closet parrot head, tonight was ridiculous! I was standing at the front gate with my head between the metal bars singing along! I was that girl! Are you kidding me! As if that was not enough, I moved to the entrance where I proceeded to stand and sing along. What can I say, I'm a fan!